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peculiarb's reviews
477 reviews
Cry Of The Firebird by Amy Kuivalainen
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Actual rating: 2.5/5
Cry of the Firebird by Amy Kuivalainen tries to do too much for a single book, and even more so for a start to a series.
When we met Anya, she's mourning the death of her grandfather and falling deeper into alcoholism before the god of death reveals himself to her and begins to activate her dormant powers. The book quickly takes off from there, with Anya freeing Yvan from his deep sleep and narrowly escaping being captured by Yvan's brother, Vassili, who seeks the power to rule the world. Now on the run, Yvan and Anya set out to build a team that can train Anya to use her powers, and successfully challenge Vassili.
Anya was a very interesting character at first. After her grandfather's death, her grief runs deep, her relations with the rest of the townsfolk become all the more frayed, and she now has to manage the farm on her own all of which proves to be too much for her and she turns to vodka. She's fully aware of being an alcoholic which impacts her first interactions with magic. It was rough to read through those chapters, especially when she decides to give it up and I thought this would be the central struggle of her character until it all but vanished. After her first decision to quit, she has a few days of side effects before she's mostly fine. The subject barely comes up past the halfway point, and certainly not in a way that impacts her which I found to be rather disappointing.
A second disappointing aspect of the book was the many romantic subplots that bloated the book. About halfway through the book, Anya starts a romantic relationship, then Katya, and finally Isabelle which took a lot of time in a book already seeking to establish an extensive fantasy world. I don't begrudge Anya the first love interest, that was expected, but Kuvalainen then added a second and a potential third love interest for her, both of which ruminate on not being able to have her more than once. Katya's romantic subplot felt rushed considering her history and then was suddenly forgotten in favour of Isabelle's which was also incredibly rushed. Given that this is the start of a series, this sort of thing could've been done in the other books in order to give both of these characters enough time for it.
The world Kuvalainen creates is fascinating though. Shes merged our own with a fairytale world that is heavily inspired by Eastern European fairytales with sprinkles of other folklore as well. There's ancient greek death spirits, nordic elves and indigenous american shamans present as well as romani-inspired peoples who travel through the two worlds. The worldbuilding was fairly well done, by the half point I had a grasp on how the fairytale world worked, which left Kuivalainen the space to show how it interacted with our world. The most interesting aspect of her world was the concept that the Illumination wasn't necessarily better than the Darkness in their methods. Anya's team of warriors are all Neutrals meaning they don't angage with either side, the dynamics of which are briefly explored towards the end of the book with hints of more in the rest of the series.
Overall, I feel ambivalent towards this book. It's not Kuivalainen's best, and I don't believe I'll be continuing with the series.
Cry of the Firebird by Amy Kuivalainen tries to do too much for a single book, and even more so for a start to a series.
When we met Anya, she's mourning the death of her grandfather and falling deeper into alcoholism before the god of death reveals himself to her and begins to activate her dormant powers. The book quickly takes off from there, with Anya freeing Yvan from his deep sleep and narrowly escaping being captured by Yvan's brother, Vassili, who seeks the power to rule the world. Now on the run, Yvan and Anya set out to build a team that can train Anya to use her powers, and successfully challenge Vassili.
Anya was a very interesting character at first. After her grandfather's death, her grief runs deep, her relations with the rest of the townsfolk become all the more frayed, and she now has to manage the farm on her own all of which proves to be too much for her and she turns to vodka. She's fully aware of being an alcoholic which impacts her first interactions with magic. It was rough to read through those chapters, especially when she decides to give it up and I thought this would be the central struggle of her character until it all but vanished. After her first decision to quit, she has a few days of side effects before she's mostly fine. The subject barely comes up past the halfway point, and certainly not in a way that impacts her which I found to be rather disappointing.
A second disappointing aspect of the book was the many romantic subplots that bloated the book. About halfway through the book, Anya starts a romantic relationship, then Katya, and finally Isabelle which took a lot of time in a book already seeking to establish an extensive fantasy world. I don't begrudge Anya the first love interest, that was expected, but Kuvalainen then added a second and a potential third love interest for her, both of which ruminate on not being able to have her more than once. Katya's romantic subplot felt rushed considering her history and then was suddenly forgotten in favour of Isabelle's which was also incredibly rushed. Given that this is the start of a series, this sort of thing could've been done in the other books in order to give both of these characters enough time for it.
The world Kuvalainen creates is fascinating though. Shes merged our own with a fairytale world that is heavily inspired by Eastern European fairytales with sprinkles of other folklore as well. There's ancient greek death spirits, nordic elves and indigenous american shamans present as well as romani-inspired peoples who travel through the two worlds. The worldbuilding was fairly well done, by the half point I had a grasp on how the fairytale world worked, which left Kuivalainen the space to show how it interacted with our world. The most interesting aspect of her world was the concept that the Illumination wasn't necessarily better than the Darkness in their methods. Anya's team of warriors are all Neutrals meaning they don't angage with either side, the dynamics of which are briefly explored towards the end of the book with hints of more in the rest of the series.
Overall, I feel ambivalent towards this book. It's not Kuivalainen's best, and I don't believe I'll be continuing with the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Violence
The Corpse Queen by Heather M. Herrman
In The Corpse Queen by Heather M. Herrman, Molly Green sets out to get revenge only to bring about a world of change.
From the first few pages, Molly’s strength shines as she goes out of her way to save Kitty’s reputation even in death. Then, when she goes to retrieve her first package, it’s her quick thinking and the helping hand of a friend that keep her from exposing her aunt’s operation and this continues throughout the book. She is an incredibly resilient and stubborn character who rarely deviates from her chosen path, though it does take some time for her to figure out what that path is. I greatly enjoyed Molly’s journey and her character arc, especially once she turned to things other than her revenge.
Herrman does a great job with her secondary characters too. Though they appear less than I would’ve liked, each moment with them fills them with life. Tom , Ginny, James, Ursula and even the twins have lives outside the main story that makes them incredibly complex. LaValle and Ava were in a category of their own. Herrman kept them at arms length, mysterious at all times which served the plot perfectly given the many twists. I would have liked to see more of Maeve and her uncle, however. I felt Molly often overlooked them once she got comfortable with the wealth around her. Even the more unsavory characters were welcome as they completed the world Herrman created while also adding a touch of fear.
As far as the plot goes, I found myself sucked in within the first few chapters. Molly’s quest for revenge quickly becomes entangled with the hunt for the Knifeman, which is then entangled with her aunt’s body trading business until most of the subplots merge in a spectacular ending. There is enough foreshadowing that a more careful reader could have gleaned the ending, but I was just along for the ride and clever twists.
I will say that certain scenes threw me off. The book opens with first person narrative from a yet unknown character, and then switches to Molly in the third person. There are several such scenes dispersed throughout the book and they came out of nowhere each time. They do tie into the story at the end, but they took me out of Molly’s story whenever they appeared which didn’t do the pacing many favours.
Apart from this, Herrman’s writing is excellent. Her characters feel real and she paints a vivid image of historical Philadelphia’s underbelly. The descriptions are visceral and very detailed. Herrman extends the medical metaphors beyond the bodies to the world she’s built. She describes the sky as bruised on occasion, a festering wound on another, lending a very peculiar feel to the city. She also adapts her descriptions when needed, giving a grand impression of a cabaret at one time only to completely flip it when it appears in the daylight. It certainly was gorier than I expected, though it does fit the subject. Herrman doesn’t shy away from describing the corpses, ailments, and effects of death in detail, so that is something to be prepared for.
Overall I very much enjoyed The Corpse Queen by Heather M. Herrman. She provides a thrilling mystery coupled with expansive character arcs for the ones I liked the most. There are important messages woven throughout and it’s a fairly quick read, certainly something I would recommend for fans of true crime.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In The Corpse Queen by Heather M. Herrman, Molly Green sets out to get revenge only to bring about a world of change.
From the first few pages, Molly’s strength shines as she goes out of her way to save Kitty’s reputation even in death. Then, when she goes to retrieve her first package, it’s her quick thinking and the helping hand of a friend that keep her from exposing her aunt’s operation and this continues throughout the book. She is an incredibly resilient and stubborn character who rarely deviates from her chosen path, though it does take some time for her to figure out what that path is. I greatly enjoyed Molly’s journey and her character arc, especially once she turned to things other than her revenge.
Herrman does a great job with her secondary characters too. Though they appear less than I would’ve liked, each moment with them fills them with life. Tom , Ginny, James, Ursula and even the twins have lives outside the main story that makes them incredibly complex. LaValle and Ava were in a category of their own. Herrman kept them at arms length, mysterious at all times which served the plot perfectly given the many twists. I would have liked to see more of Maeve and her uncle, however. I felt Molly often overlooked them once she got comfortable with the wealth around her. Even the more unsavory characters were welcome as they completed the world Herrman created while also adding a touch of fear.
As far as the plot goes, I found myself sucked in within the first few chapters. Molly’s quest for revenge quickly becomes entangled with the hunt for the Knifeman, which is then entangled with her aunt’s body trading business until most of the subplots merge in a spectacular ending. There is enough foreshadowing that a more careful reader could have gleaned the ending, but I was just along for the ride and clever twists.
I will say that certain scenes threw me off. The book opens with first person narrative from a yet unknown character, and then switches to Molly in the third person. There are several such scenes dispersed throughout the book and they came out of nowhere each time. They do tie into the story at the end, but they took me out of Molly’s story whenever they appeared which didn’t do the pacing many favours.
Apart from this, Herrman’s writing is excellent. Her characters feel real and she paints a vivid image of historical Philadelphia’s underbelly. The descriptions are visceral and very detailed. Herrman extends the medical metaphors beyond the bodies to the world she’s built. She describes the sky as bruised on occasion, a festering wound on another, lending a very peculiar feel to the city. She also adapts her descriptions when needed, giving a grand impression of a cabaret at one time only to completely flip it when it appears in the daylight. It certainly was gorier than I expected, though it does fit the subject. Herrman doesn’t shy away from describing the corpses, ailments, and effects of death in detail, so that is something to be prepared for.
Overall I very much enjoyed The Corpse Queen by Heather M. Herrman. She provides a thrilling mystery coupled with expansive character arcs for the ones I liked the most. There are important messages woven throughout and it’s a fairly quick read, certainly something I would recommend for fans of true crime.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Picking up soon after the end of Raybearer, Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko has Tarisai face challenge after challenge as she rushes to anoint her own council before entering the underworld.
When Thadis’s prison break goes badly, it sets Tarisai on a self destructive path encouraged by the Ojiji that newly haunt her. This puts Tarisai’s mental health at the center of this book, as the spirits encourage her self doubt and isolation from others under the guise of demanding justice. It’s a hard journey to follow Tarisai on but it also lends even more depth to her character. As a result, her arc is full of emotion, good and bad, that ends in her being a strong and loving empress.
Her relationship with Sanjeet also deepens throughout Redemptor. When a threat forces them apart, their relationship also loses steam as Ifueko makes a point to show how hard being far away can be. Far from being unwelcome, the flaws and shortcomings she wrote into their romance show that both partners must actively and continuously commit to each other when apart, something passed over in other YA fantasy settings. Ifueko focuses on it just enough to make it feel rounded and realistic, without disrupting the pace of the story.
This attention to character relationships is present during the entire book. Ifueko dwells on the relationships Tarisai develops with each new council member to show how they differ from each other. All this without neglecting Dayo’s council. Kirah, Sanjeet and Dayo stand out the most, but Ifueko also peppers the book with scenes of the others so no one feels left out. If I had one complaint about the book it was Zuri’s character. While he represented an ideal to Tarisai, I felt his character arc was incomplete and would have liked to see more of him and his motivations.
When it comes to worldbuilding, Ifueko’s writing maintains the same lyrical quality as Raybearer, while music and rhythm remain important to the story — which is why I chose to listen to Redemptor as an audiobook. Joniece Abbott-Pratt does a fantastic job as a narrator. She gives each character a distinctive voice and accent, and the whole text a musicality that fits perfectly with the world and story. Ifueko expands on the world, this time focusing on the magical aspects of it. We delve into the effects of the ray ans its history, as well as the various creatures within it.
Finally a note on sexuality. Sex, sexuality and the prospect of a family are all talked about in the book. Sanjeet and Tarisai openly discuss protection and her feelings on having children, which is a more than worthwhile discussion to have in YA. While Dayo’s asexuality is further delved into, with him exploring his boundaries and finding what kind of touch he’s comfortable with. And neither is ever questioned on their choices, instead they are accepted with open arms.
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko is a stunning sequel to a stunning debut. It neatly finishes the series and doesn’t suffer from sequel syndrome. The series is undoubtedly one of the best YA series I’ve read: it’s an immersive introduction to African mythos with fantastic characters. I recommend it without reserve.
When Thadis’s prison break goes badly, it sets Tarisai on a self destructive path encouraged by the Ojiji that newly haunt her. This puts Tarisai’s mental health at the center of this book, as the spirits encourage her self doubt and isolation from others under the guise of demanding justice. It’s a hard journey to follow Tarisai on but it also lends even more depth to her character. As a result, her arc is full of emotion, good and bad, that ends in her being a strong and loving empress.
Her relationship with Sanjeet also deepens throughout Redemptor. When a threat forces them apart, their relationship also loses steam as Ifueko makes a point to show how hard being far away can be. Far from being unwelcome, the flaws and shortcomings she wrote into their romance show that both partners must actively and continuously commit to each other when apart, something passed over in other YA fantasy settings. Ifueko focuses on it just enough to make it feel rounded and realistic, without disrupting the pace of the story.
This attention to character relationships is present during the entire book. Ifueko dwells on the relationships Tarisai develops with each new council member to show how they differ from each other. All this without neglecting Dayo’s council. Kirah, Sanjeet and Dayo stand out the most, but Ifueko also peppers the book with scenes of the others so no one feels left out. If I had one complaint about the book it was Zuri’s character. While he represented an ideal to Tarisai, I felt his character arc was incomplete and would have liked to see more of him and his motivations.
When it comes to worldbuilding, Ifueko’s writing maintains the same lyrical quality as Raybearer, while music and rhythm remain important to the story — which is why I chose to listen to Redemptor as an audiobook. Joniece Abbott-Pratt does a fantastic job as a narrator. She gives each character a distinctive voice and accent, and the whole text a musicality that fits perfectly with the world and story. Ifueko expands on the world, this time focusing on the magical aspects of it. We delve into the effects of the ray ans its history, as well as the various creatures within it.
Finally a note on sexuality. Sex, sexuality and the prospect of a family are all talked about in the book. Sanjeet and Tarisai openly discuss protection and her feelings on having children, which is a more than worthwhile discussion to have in YA. While Dayo’s asexuality is further delved into, with him exploring his boundaries and finding what kind of touch he’s comfortable with. And neither is ever questioned on their choices, instead they are accepted with open arms.
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko is a stunning sequel to a stunning debut. It neatly finishes the series and doesn’t suffer from sequel syndrome. The series is undoubtedly one of the best YA series I’ve read: it’s an immersive introduction to African mythos with fantastic characters. I recommend it without reserve.
And What Can We Offer You Tonight by Premee Mohamed
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
And What Can We Offer You Tonight' by Premee Mohamed took me on an unexpected journey.
From the blurb and the page number, I was expecting a quick mystery, instead I got a deep and emotional tale about one woman's choice between freedom and comfort.
From the blurb and the page number, I was expecting a quick mystery, instead I got a deep and emotional tale about one woman's choice between freedom and comfort.
Since this is a short book, I'll keep the review short and say I really liked it. The story is brimming with themes of loss, disconnect from one's culture, and what one does to survive. Jewel is a prostitute in a famous establishment when her friend dies, then comes back to life. Win is bent on revenge, but Jewel struggles with the idea as it would overturn the little she's gained so far, making this book intensely introspective.
If you're looking for a light, fun read then this book isn't for you. However if you're willing to brave an emotional and, at times, heart-wrenching tale with moments of action, and an ending that makes you question whether 'happy ever after' really IS the best way to go, then don't hesitate to pick this up!
If you're looking for a light, fun read then this book isn't for you. However if you're willing to brave an emotional and, at times, heart-wrenching tale with moments of action, and an ending that makes you question whether 'happy ever after' really IS the best way to go, then don't hesitate to pick this up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, and Death
The Hand of the Sun King by J.T. Greathouse
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wen Alder was torn between two destinies from the moment he was born. With his mother being Nayeni and his father from the Sienese conquering Empire, he’s always struggled to reconcile his legacies and that marks his journey in the book. As a child, he touched unbridled power and he spends the book trying to recapture that feeling. It’s this ambition that sets him apart as a main character since it drives his every step. He quickly discovers that every type of magic he encounters comes with limitations that first taste didn’t, which only adds to his frustration. As he grows, he comes to see the Empire as reductive at first, and then cruel, until finally he breaks from it.
The first half of the book is dominated by his ambitions and frustrations. He clings to them and propriety as he tries to erase his mother’s heritage and serve the empire. I’ll admit, this part of the book was tedious, Alder’s extreme adherence to rank and his dwellings on whether or not someone of lower station insulted him made him thoroughly unlikable during the first part of his training. His friendship with Oriole is the first step in him divesting himself of the empire and thus becoming a more interesting character. Once he’s not held back, his quick thinking and kindness shine through and I genuinely liked being in his head. I especially liked his progression in the final parts of the book, his decisions and actions showed how much the journey was worth it.
Though this is a first person narrative, Greathouse takes care to have enough interactions with the side characters that they stay memorable. Alder’s mother, his grandmother, his uncle Usher, Oriole and others make a lasting impression, even with brief interactions, which only served to enrich the story.
However, I was less impressed by the romance. I liked Atar when she was introduced, especially how she used dancing to express herself, but I don’t feel the romance added much to this particular book. While it didn’t feel shoehorned in, Alder’s journey could have been the same without it.
Greathouse lost a little with the worldbuilding. Alder’s world is a fascinating one, with old gods that are very much alive, an undying emperor that can peer through the minds of his subordinates, and a complicated magical history enough to entice any fantasy fan. However, vital parts of the world are left unexplained until late in the book, making it a lot to take in at that stage given the other events taking place. Despite this, I am curious to see how it develops in further books as Greathouse’s writing does make his world come alive.
The Hand Of The Sun King by J.T. Greathouse contains some beautiful writing. His descriptions are beautifully vibrant as he goes into depth about everything Alder encounters without being tedious. Each province in the empire has a distinct feel to it with a rich history that ends up sucking readers in.
However, the pacing was uneven at times, especially when Alder was travelling or arriving at a new place. At first it would seem like every single hour in a day was described, then the narrative would skip weeks, months, even years at a time. I appreciated the overview of Alder’s life, though, however awkward the pacing.
The Hand Of The Sun King was a thrilling introduction to a new fantasy series. Despite certain shortcomings, Alder’s world captivated my attention and his journey is one that I look forward to continuing in the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
The King's Seal by Amy Kuivalainen
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
3.5
The story opens with Penelope’s grief. Tim’s death brought the apocalypse much closer to home and Penelope has a hard time reconciling with that. Because of her situation, she hasn’t been able to process the loss so it creeps up on her throughout the novel. Since her relationship with Tim was fraught in the last book, The King’s Seal allows her to remember the good times, making his loss affect her deeply. This also makes her more anxious and prone to being overwhelmed. It isn’t often that the effects of grief are dwelled on, so I really liked what Kuivalainen did here.
Penelope’s relationship with Alexis also changes. The looming end of the world does nothing to dampen their love for each other, neither do the constant challenges that arise. Just like the previous book, they both calm each other’s anxieties, with Alexis being especially attentive to Penelope’s grief. Kuivalainen makes their relationship even more delightful by avoiding tropes that would separate them for the drama of it all, which I found a welcome break from love triangles.
One thing that stood out, however, was Alexis’ need for control. He struggles with letting go, especially when it comes to Penelope’s safety, even towards the end of the series. This left the occasional bad taste in my mouth as it could’ve been done better. As is, it comes off as a lot of telling without many actions to show it from his part.
Amy Kuivalainen looks beyond her main couple in The King’s Seal. While there are few chapters from Lyca’s POV, Marco’s chapters more than make up for it as the book explores their friendship. A welcome break from all the romance, those two make the perfect team and I would gladly experience more of their adventures. Finally, Kuivalainen delves into the relationship between Aelia and Phaidros. The long time rivalry between the two comes to a peak in this final book and it was fascinating to see how it all unravelled. As far as other side characters go, there’s another immortal brought in to stir things up, while Elazar also makes a reappearance.
The plot in The King’s Seal is much like in previous books. There’s a lot of research to further the plot, along with another treasure hunt for Solomon’s Ring. It had a good pace, with mounting tension that cumulated in the final battle and a lovely ending full of hope. There were times when the research or history slowed the book down a little, but not to the extent that I would call it ‘dragging’. Without spoiling too much, the ending felt somewhat rushed. At 275 pages, adding another 20 or 30 wouldn’t have changed the length significantly, but it would have allowed for a more satisfying ending.
As far as the writing goes, I didn’t find much that stood out. Kuivalainen’s dialogue is stilted at times but the prose flows well. She still weaves the Atlanteans throughout history in a fascinating manner, this time delving into the relationships they created along the way. The pacing was good enough, but I continue to think Kuivalainen’s strength lies in her characters.
All in all, I enjoyed The King’s Seal by Amy Kuivalainen. I would have liked to see more character development from some and a little more plot at the end of the novel. This final book outshines its prequel to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. If you were a fan of the previous ones, don’t hesitate to pick this up!
Penelope’s relationship with Alexis also changes. The looming end of the world does nothing to dampen their love for each other, neither do the constant challenges that arise. Just like the previous book, they both calm each other’s anxieties, with Alexis being especially attentive to Penelope’s grief. Kuivalainen makes their relationship even more delightful by avoiding tropes that would separate them for the drama of it all, which I found a welcome break from love triangles.
One thing that stood out, however, was Alexis’ need for control. He struggles with letting go, especially when it comes to Penelope’s safety, even towards the end of the series. This left the occasional bad taste in my mouth as it could’ve been done better. As is, it comes off as a lot of telling without many actions to show it from his part.
Amy Kuivalainen looks beyond her main couple in The King’s Seal. While there are few chapters from Lyca’s POV, Marco’s chapters more than make up for it as the book explores their friendship. A welcome break from all the romance, those two make the perfect team and I would gladly experience more of their adventures. Finally, Kuivalainen delves into the relationship between Aelia and Phaidros. The long time rivalry between the two comes to a peak in this final book and it was fascinating to see how it all unravelled. As far as other side characters go, there’s another immortal brought in to stir things up, while Elazar also makes a reappearance.
The plot in The King’s Seal is much like in previous books. There’s a lot of research to further the plot, along with another treasure hunt for Solomon’s Ring. It had a good pace, with mounting tension that cumulated in the final battle and a lovely ending full of hope. There were times when the research or history slowed the book down a little, but not to the extent that I would call it ‘dragging’. Without spoiling too much, the ending felt somewhat rushed. At 275 pages, adding another 20 or 30 wouldn’t have changed the length significantly, but it would have allowed for a more satisfying ending.
As far as the writing goes, I didn’t find much that stood out. Kuivalainen’s dialogue is stilted at times but the prose flows well. She still weaves the Atlanteans throughout history in a fascinating manner, this time delving into the relationships they created along the way. The pacing was good enough, but I continue to think Kuivalainen’s strength lies in her characters.
All in all, I enjoyed The King’s Seal by Amy Kuivalainen. I would have liked to see more character development from some and a little more plot at the end of the novel. This final book outshines its prequel to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. If you were a fan of the previous ones, don’t hesitate to pick this up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Blood
CW: there are two on page sex scenes in this book.
Two Thousand Years by M. Dalto
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
CW: Discussion of rape.
I suppose the place to start with this book is the beginning. When Alex comes home from a birthday party, she finds her house broken into and its promptly whisked off to The Empire by Treyan because she's the prophesised Queen Empress. Despite this predestined fate, Alex is entirely unwilling and considers this a kidnapping, which set the tone of the novel for me. Though this doesn't last long as Alex decides she's actually attracted to Treyan by the 20% marker.
While she doesn't decide to actually stay until later, this sudden reversal of her previous feelings left me questioning where the novel would take their relationship. Not only is she being kidnapped, she also has to put up with Treyan being smug about the whole thing from the very beginning, which grew increasingly irritating. I suppose Treyan is supposed to be this dark and brooding prince, but there's a lot more build up needed character-wise.
Another character that lacks build up is the villain. At first, Reylor is presented as this evil man out to destroy The Empire. His awful behaviour shows up early but it's never fully explained why he's actually trying to bring the system down, making him come off as cartoonish for the first half. Even during the chapters with his POV, he's lacks nuance as he's consumed with revenge.
A final point on this aspect of the book: Two Thousand Years by M. Dalto contains multiple instances of assault and attempted rape, which I could grudgingly ignore but it also contains on page rape. Now, when I came across this, I went looking in the book, the author's website, goodreads, and even netgalley for content warnings that I might have missed but there were none. While it's not described in great detail, the lead up to it and the aftermath are.
Plot wise the book got better after this as the story delved into deeper issues, though I don't agree with how the rape was handled.
However, despite the potential this book had, I cannot trust that this won't happen again in a future book of the series, therefore I cannot continue. I only made it to the end of this one in order to review this.
It was irresponsible not to include trigger warnings when this book was released and remains irresponsible in 2021. I shouldn't have to rely on reviews (most of which do not include this trigger warning by the way) to know whether or not I will come across a traumatic such scene. This is the bare minimum, do better.
I suppose the place to start with this book is the beginning. When Alex comes home from a birthday party, she finds her house broken into and its promptly whisked off to The Empire by Treyan because she's the prophesised Queen Empress. Despite this predestined fate, Alex is entirely unwilling and considers this a kidnapping, which set the tone of the novel for me. Though this doesn't last long as Alex decides she's actually attracted to Treyan by the 20% marker.
While she doesn't decide to actually stay until later, this sudden reversal of her previous feelings left me questioning where the novel would take their relationship. Not only is she being kidnapped, she also has to put up with Treyan being smug about the whole thing from the very beginning, which grew increasingly irritating. I suppose Treyan is supposed to be this dark and brooding prince, but there's a lot more build up needed character-wise.
Another character that lacks build up is the villain. At first, Reylor is presented as this evil man out to destroy The Empire. His awful behaviour shows up early but it's never fully explained why he's actually trying to bring the system down, making him come off as cartoonish for the first half. Even during the chapters with his POV, he's lacks nuance as he's consumed with revenge.
A final point on this aspect of the book: Two Thousand Years by M. Dalto contains multiple instances of assault and attempted rape, which I could grudgingly ignore but it also contains on page rape. Now, when I came across this, I went looking in the book, the author's website, goodreads, and even netgalley for content warnings that I might have missed but there were none. While it's not described in great detail, the lead up to it and the aftermath are.
Plot wise the book got better after this as the story delved into deeper issues, though I don't agree with how the rape was handled.
However, despite the potential this book had, I cannot trust that this won't happen again in a future book of the series, therefore I cannot continue. I only made it to the end of this one in order to review this.
It was irresponsible not to include trigger warnings when this book was released and remains irresponsible in 2021. I shouldn't have to rely on reviews (most of which do not include this trigger warning by the way) to know whether or not I will come across a traumatic such scene. This is the bare minimum, do better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape
The book itself has no trigger warnings.
Unwritten by Alicia J. Novo
Read this review on Bookstacked: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-...
In "Unwritten" by Alicia J. Novo, Beatrix takes a leap of faith in the hopes of finding her mom, only to discover how high the stakes really are.
When Beatrix chooses to leave Earth behind on the possibility of reuniting with her mother, she doesn’t expect to find herself at the centre of an age old divide that threatens Zweeshen with another civil war.
Novo builds a world where characters live beyond their stories. While this magical world contains as many destinations as there are books, most of the action takes place in a heavily bureaucratic city. Zweeshen was not what I expected. Instead of a world where Beatrix magically fits in, she is an outsider again where most openly dislike or even hate her. Alicia J. Novo delves into the consequences of this xenophobia without holding back. Beatrix faces hatred, multiple attacks, and a government that’s out to get her from day one. This has a profound impact on the story and added complexity to it.
Beatrix is an interesting character. Having grown up in an emotionally abusive home and having been bullied at school, she’s guarded but yearns for acceptance. Novo strikes a delicate balance between the two, making Beatrix a complex and realistic teenager. As for her character arc, I thought that was one of the book’s strongest aspects. The connections she makes on Zweeshen allow her to grow and reflect on her past, as well as see a future for herself.
However, the romantic relationship was underdeveloped. One minute Beatrix dislikes her romantic interest to the point where she doesn’t even want to be in the same room with him, then, within a few chapters she’s falling head over heels for him. Meanwhile, his motivation for staying away crumbles just as quickly despite the danger hanging over their heads. I felt this took away from Beatrix’s character arc, which I otherwise enjoyed.
Another aspect of "Unwritten" that I didn’t like was how flowery the writing was. Novo embellishes her writing to the point where I was tempted to skim through whole passages. While she paints vivid descriptions that do bring the world to life, she also adds unnecessary descriptors for more mundane actions. This didn’t make the text hard to get through, but it did make some parts feel like they dragged on unnecessarily.
This also has to do with the pacing of the book. While the plot was fun and I enjoyed the various twists, I found the pacing to be uneven. Many chapters end in a cliffhanger and the next starts after a time jump with Beatrix going back to explain what happened during the two. I liked that structure at first, yet the novelty quickly wore off the more it was used. More than once I went back to make sure I hadn’t missed anything only to have Beatrix explain the transition later.
Overall I enjoyed the story of "Unwritten" by Alicia J. Novo, but found the execution to be lacking. Novo’s strength lies in her characters rather than other aspects of the book and I hope to see that developed more in the sequel.
adventurous
medium-paced
3.0
Read this review on Bookstacked: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-...
In "Unwritten" by Alicia J. Novo, Beatrix takes a leap of faith in the hopes of finding her mom, only to discover how high the stakes really are.
When Beatrix chooses to leave Earth behind on the possibility of reuniting with her mother, she doesn’t expect to find herself at the centre of an age old divide that threatens Zweeshen with another civil war.
Novo builds a world where characters live beyond their stories. While this magical world contains as many destinations as there are books, most of the action takes place in a heavily bureaucratic city. Zweeshen was not what I expected. Instead of a world where Beatrix magically fits in, she is an outsider again where most openly dislike or even hate her. Alicia J. Novo delves into the consequences of this xenophobia without holding back. Beatrix faces hatred, multiple attacks, and a government that’s out to get her from day one. This has a profound impact on the story and added complexity to it.
Beatrix is an interesting character. Having grown up in an emotionally abusive home and having been bullied at school, she’s guarded but yearns for acceptance. Novo strikes a delicate balance between the two, making Beatrix a complex and realistic teenager. As for her character arc, I thought that was one of the book’s strongest aspects. The connections she makes on Zweeshen allow her to grow and reflect on her past, as well as see a future for herself.
However, the romantic relationship was underdeveloped. One minute Beatrix dislikes her romantic interest to the point where she doesn’t even want to be in the same room with him, then, within a few chapters she’s falling head over heels for him. Meanwhile, his motivation for staying away crumbles just as quickly despite the danger hanging over their heads. I felt this took away from Beatrix’s character arc, which I otherwise enjoyed.
Another aspect of "Unwritten" that I didn’t like was how flowery the writing was. Novo embellishes her writing to the point where I was tempted to skim through whole passages. While she paints vivid descriptions that do bring the world to life, she also adds unnecessary descriptors for more mundane actions. This didn’t make the text hard to get through, but it did make some parts feel like they dragged on unnecessarily.
This also has to do with the pacing of the book. While the plot was fun and I enjoyed the various twists, I found the pacing to be uneven. Many chapters end in a cliffhanger and the next starts after a time jump with Beatrix going back to explain what happened during the two. I liked that structure at first, yet the novelty quickly wore off the more it was used. More than once I went back to make sure I hadn’t missed anything only to have Beatrix explain the transition later.
Overall I enjoyed the story of "Unwritten" by Alicia J. Novo, but found the execution to be lacking. Novo’s strength lies in her characters rather than other aspects of the book and I hope to see that developed more in the sequel.
The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Lights of Prague by Nicola Jarvis tells the tale of a man forced to reckon with all he knows in order to save his city.
Prague’s lamplighters consider all non-human creatures to be demons, however Domek’s black and white view of the world finds itself constantly challenged as he’s forced to acknowledge shades of grey. His character arc was very interesting, chiefly because he resisted this change. For most of the book, he openly condemns anyone who he doesn’t perceive as good while he is blind to the actions of peers. It’s only once he reaches rock bottom that he starts expanding his point of view.
Ora Fischerová becomes a catalyst to this change. A wealthy widow with an eye for Domek, she spends her nights enjoying the many sights Prague has to offer until she is pulled into the pijavice conspiracy herself. Her character is almost the complete opposite of Domek. She’s appears to be incredibly lively, yet she’s still shadowed by the death of her husband. Despite the image she projects, her grief and loneliness are often suffocating. Throughout the book she is forced to reckon with it and the fact that it has rendered her stagnant in life. However, it’s not her growing relationship with Domek brings on the change, but rather her involvement in the plot and the threats to her loved ones.
I really liked that the romance wasn’t the reason for her coming to terms with her grief. Domek helps, but she ultimately starts the process of healing on her own.
While the two of them are the main characters, they don’t actually team up until the end. This means that the book is made up of two converging plot lines, giving the readers the full image. I especially liked one part of The Lights of Prague where Ora is working against the pijavice, while Domek is following Ora thinking she’s part of them. Despite the gravity of those scenes, I did enjoy how well Jarvis pulled off this miscommunication trope.
I also enjoyed the plot as a whole. While the story is condensed into a small number of days, it doesn’t feel forced or overwhelming. Jarvis slowly builds the action, balancing it out with scenes of Domek and Ora hanging out with loved ones or each other, giving the story an excellent pace.
Late 19th century Prague comes alive with Jarvis’ writing. She takes care not just to describe the scenery, but to include small details that make the whole more authentic. The worldbuilding isn’t overwhelming, but rather rely on our own history with an added layer of magic. I also appreciated that the creatures kept their Slavic names.
As for the LGBTQ+ representation, while Ora doesn’t label herself, she is unabashedly queer with frequent mentions of previous lovers of all kinds. One, Darina, even comes to play a role in the story. Her previous relationship with her husband and her budding one with Domek do not erase her sexuality, rather they are just as much a part of it.
The Lights of Prague by Nicola Jarvis is a fantastic adventure. It’s a great introduction to elements of Czech mythology, with dynamic main characters and a captivating story. I do hope to see more of Jarvis’s works in the future.
CW: Gore, violence, grief, antisemitism
Prague’s lamplighters consider all non-human creatures to be demons, however Domek’s black and white view of the world finds itself constantly challenged as he’s forced to acknowledge shades of grey. His character arc was very interesting, chiefly because he resisted this change. For most of the book, he openly condemns anyone who he doesn’t perceive as good while he is blind to the actions of peers. It’s only once he reaches rock bottom that he starts expanding his point of view.
Ora Fischerová becomes a catalyst to this change. A wealthy widow with an eye for Domek, she spends her nights enjoying the many sights Prague has to offer until she is pulled into the pijavice conspiracy herself. Her character is almost the complete opposite of Domek. She’s appears to be incredibly lively, yet she’s still shadowed by the death of her husband. Despite the image she projects, her grief and loneliness are often suffocating. Throughout the book she is forced to reckon with it and the fact that it has rendered her stagnant in life. However, it’s not her growing relationship with Domek brings on the change, but rather her involvement in the plot and the threats to her loved ones.
I really liked that the romance wasn’t the reason for her coming to terms with her grief. Domek helps, but she ultimately starts the process of healing on her own.
While the two of them are the main characters, they don’t actually team up until the end. This means that the book is made up of two converging plot lines, giving the readers the full image. I especially liked one part of The Lights of Prague where Ora is working against the pijavice, while Domek is following Ora thinking she’s part of them. Despite the gravity of those scenes, I did enjoy how well Jarvis pulled off this miscommunication trope.
I also enjoyed the plot as a whole. While the story is condensed into a small number of days, it doesn’t feel forced or overwhelming. Jarvis slowly builds the action, balancing it out with scenes of Domek and Ora hanging out with loved ones or each other, giving the story an excellent pace.
Late 19th century Prague comes alive with Jarvis’ writing. She takes care not just to describe the scenery, but to include small details that make the whole more authentic. The worldbuilding isn’t overwhelming, but rather rely on our own history with an added layer of magic. I also appreciated that the creatures kept their Slavic names.
As for the LGBTQ+ representation, while Ora doesn’t label herself, she is unabashedly queer with frequent mentions of previous lovers of all kinds. One, Darina, even comes to play a role in the story. Her previous relationship with her husband and her budding one with Domek do not erase her sexuality, rather they are just as much a part of it.
The Lights of Prague by Nicola Jarvis is a fantastic adventure. It’s a great introduction to elements of Czech mythology, with dynamic main characters and a captivating story. I do hope to see more of Jarvis’s works in the future.
CW: Gore, violence, grief, antisemitism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Antisemitism and Homophobia